Bits and pieces of our lives
This exercise enhances mindfulness, encouraging participants to notice the small details that enrich narratives and deepen their connection with audiences.
Duration: 60 minutes. Introduction and instructions: 10 minutes. Completing the exercise: 45 minutes. Summary: 5 minutes.
Difficulty level: 1/5
Number of participants: up to 15 people.
Preparation
Ask participants to take three small items out of their bags, backpacks, or pockets and place them on the table.
Introduction
Begin by discussing the significance of small things in our lives. The world is made up of small gestures, actions, thoughts, and intentions. It could be a note in the margin of a book, a thoughtful message left for someone, or a trinket brought back from a trip to show we were thinking of them. These small things matter. They help create connections and shape our daily lives.
Instructions
Ask participants to lay out three small items from their bags or pockets. Encourage them to share the significance of each item, explaining where it came from and what it means to them (1 minute per person).
Shift the conversation toward small objects that are no longer present but once held deep meaning for the participants. Ask about notes left under pillows, candies from grandparents tucked into school bags, or other small objects that carried great emotional value at the time. Invite them to share stories about these little items and how they contributed to their sense of belonging or uniqueness (1 minute per person).
Now, guide the conversation to metaphorical or intangible items – those that carry emotional or symbolic weight, even though they don’t have a physical form. Discuss small moments like gestures, words, looks, or memories that evoke feelings and shape relationships (1 minute per person).
Wrap-up
Ask the group:
What small things make us feel accepted and part of a community?
What can we offer ourselves, and what do we receive from others?
What small things make us feel excluded or worse?
How can we cope with these challenges?